A combination of trends is sparking heightened interest in generational issues. For one thing, people are simply living longer due to advances in medicine and preventive health. It’s more common today, as opposed to 50 years ago, to see people live into their 90s and some who face financial difficulty may have to face moving […]

In a society that continues to prize thinness even as Americans become heavier than ever before, almost everyone worries about their weight at least occasionally. People with eating disorders take such concerns to extremes, developing abnormal eating habits that threaten their well-being and even their lives. This question-and-answer fact sheet explains how psychotherapy can help […]

Anxiety disorders can affect anyone. Anxiety often comes when people hold in their fears until they begin to feel anxiety. The signs of an anxiety disorder include:
- Endless checking or rechecking actions.
- A constant and unrealistic worry about everyday occurrences and activities.
- Fear and anxiety that appear for no apparent reason.
Anxiety disorders include the following:
- […]

Our co-workers are very much like an extended family. We spend most of our waking hours with them, forging special bonds of trust and friendship that are unlike our other relationships.
So it’s not surprising that a co-worker’s death can sometimes be particularly difficult to deal with, particularly if you were close to that person, or […]

We all know what anger is, and we’ve all felt it, whether as fleeting annoyance or as full-fledged rage.
Anger is a completely normal, and usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems: problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality […]

Q. How important is it to treat the mind as well as the body during a serious illness?
A. When people are ill, it’s important to deal with the illness on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. If you treat just the body, you short-change yourself.
We don’t know exactly how the mind/body connection works, but we […]

There are many types of chronic illness, from diabetes and AIDS to arthritis and persistent fatigue. While medical science has made great strides in developing effective treatments for the physical effects of these diseases, many victims still face a staggering challenge to their mental and emotional health.
One of the biggest fears is the uncertainty associated […]

There are many reasons why people do not get help for mental health problems. Fear, shame, and embarrassment often prevent individuals and their families from doing anything.
Sometimes being able to get the help, support, and professional treatment you need is a matter of changing your mind about mental health and changing the way you react […]

The more you know, the easier it is
Libraries are an excellent source of information about mental health. Bookstores often have “self-help” or “psychology” sections.
For those with Internet access, there are many Web sites related to health and mental health. Some are better in quality than others. It is important to know if the information on […]

Health professionals who specialize in helping individuals and their families with mental health problems include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses. Psychotherapy, sometimes known as talk therapy, is often an important part of mental health treatment by qualified professionals. In some situations, physicians may recommend the use of medication for an individual with […]